Roll sheet assembly and roll sheet flange

ABSTRACT

There is provided a roll sheet assembly including a cardboard tube, a roll sheet wound around the cardboard tube, and a pair of flanges each disposed at one of both ends of the cardboard tube. The flanges each include a flange main body covering an end face of the roll sheet, a cylindrical body projecting at a center of an inner surface of the flange main body, and being inserted into the cardboard tube, and a fixing unit fixing the cylindrical body being inserted into the cardboard tube to an inner circumferential surface of the cardboard tube. The cylindrical body has a spiral cutting line formed thereon.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a roll sheet assembly and a roll sheet flange.

A roll sheet produced by winding a printer sheet around a cardboard tube has been used in a printer such as a thermal printer, a thermal transfer printer (including a dye sublimation printer), and an ink jet printer in order to perform much printing, or the like. A method of using flanges provided at the both ends of the roll sheet is used as a method of delivering information regarding a print characteristic, a remaining amount, and the like of the roll sheet to the printer.

For example, in the thermal printer described in JP 2012-51703A, flanges having concave and convex portions formed on an outer surface are attached at the both ends of a thermal sheet roll, and a contact sensor is provided on a holder of the thermal printer, which accommodates the thermal sheet roll. A state of the thermal sheet roll (including a remaining sheet amount, a type of thermal sheet, or a mounted state) is detected based on a state of contact of the irregularities of the flanges with the contact sensor, and delivered to the printer.

SUMMARY

Incidentally, when applying the flanges described in JP 2012-51703A to a roll sheet, it is requested that the flanges and a cardboard tube of the roll sheet are configured to be securely integrated with each other such that the flanges are not easily detached from the roll sheet before and while the roll sheet is used. Meanwhile, it is also requested that the roll sheet and the flanges are easily disassembled such that the roll sheet and the flanges, which include different materials (such as a paper material and a resin material including polypropylene, respectively), are separately wasted after the roll sheet is used.

However, in the thermal sheet roll described in JP 2012-51703A, if it is emphasized that the roll sheet and the flanges are tightly fixed to be securely integrated before and while the roll sheet is used, it becomes difficult to detach the cardboard tube from the flanges after the roll sheet is used. Consequently, the flanges and the cardboard tube are very difficult to separately waste, and it is also very difficult to reduce an amount of the waste. To the contrary, if it is emphasized that the cardboard tube and the flanges are easy to detach after the roll sheet is used so that the cardboard tube and the flanges are configured to be loosely fixed, the flanges are easily detached from the cardboard tube before and while the roll sheet is used, which is inconvenient for use and interferes with the operation of the printer.

In view of such circumstances, it is desired to provide a roll sheet assembly which can have a roll sheet and flanges securely fixed before and while the roll sheet is used, and can also have the roll sheet and the flanges easily disassembled after the roll sheet is used.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a roll sheet assembly including a cardboard tube, a roll sheet wound around the cardboard tube, and a pair of flanges each disposed at one of both ends of the cardboard tube. The flanges each include a flange main body covering an end face of the roll sheet, a cylindrical body projecting at a center of an inner surface of the flange main body, and being inserted into the cardboard tube, and a fixing unit fixing the cylindrical body being inserted into the cardboard tube to an inner circumferential surface of the cardboard tube. The cylindrical body has a spiral cutting line formed thereon.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a roll sheet flange including a disk-shaped flange main body covering an end face of a roll sheet, the roll sheet being wound around a cardboard tube, a cylindrical body projecting at a center of an inner surface of the flange main body, and being inserted into the cardboard tube, and a fixing unit fixing the cylindrical body being inserted into the cardboard tube to an inner circumferential surface of the cardboard tube. The cylindrical body has a spiral cutting line formed thereon.

According to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, when force is applied to the flange main body in a direction in which the cylindrical body of the flange is pulled out from the cardboard tube, the cylindrical body may be cut along the spiral cutting line and fixation of the cylindrical body by the fixing unit may be released. Consequently, the cut cylindrical body can be pulled out from the cardboard tube. The flange can hereby be securely joined to the cardboard tube before and while the roll sheet assembly is used. The cylindrical body of the flange can be cut along the spiral cutting line, and the flange can be easily separated from the cardboard tube after the roll sheet assembly is used.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to securely fix the cardboard tube of the roll sheet and the flanges before and while the roll sheet is used, and to easily disassemble the cardboard tube and the flanges after the roll sheet is used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a whole configuration of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view and a perspective view, each of which illustrates a configuration of a roll sheet assembly according to the same embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view, a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′, and a side view, each of which illustrates a roll sheet holder according to the same embodiment with the roll sheet assembly not mounted thereon;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view illustrating the roll sheet holder according to the same embodiment with the roll sheet assembly mounted thereon;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state of contact of a contact sensor with a convex portion of a flange of the roll sheet assembly according to the same embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a table illustrating a sensor signal output from the contact sensor according to the same embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a signal waveform chart illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of a roll sheet according to the same embodiment and the sensor signal of the contact sensor;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a flange according to a modified example of the same embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a roll sheet assembly according to a modified example of the same embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the roll sheet assembly according to the same embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a symmetrical pair of flanges according to the same embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating the flange according to the same embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the flange according to the same embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that the flange according to the same embodiment is attached to a cardboard tube;

FIG. 15 is a side view illustrating to a flange according to a modified example of the same embodiment;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a cylindrical body having a cutting guide kerf according to a modified example of the same embodiment formed thereon;

FIG. 17 is a process drawing illustrating a method for assembling the roll sheet assembly according to the same embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a process drawing illustrating the method for assembling the roll sheet assembly according to the same embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a process drawing illustrating a method for disassembling the flange of the roll sheet assembly according to the same embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a process drawing illustrating the method for disassembling the flange of the roll sheet assembly according to the same embodiment; and

FIG. 21 is a process drawing illustrating the method for disassembling the flange of the roll sheet assembly according to the same embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that, in this specification and the appended drawings, structural elements that have substantially the same function and structure are denoted with the same reference numerals, and repeated explanation of these structural elements is omitted.

The description will be made in the following order.

1. Configuration of Printer 2. Method for Detecting State of Roll Sheet Assembly 2.1. Detection of Remaining Amount of Roll Sheet 2.2. Detection of Type of Roll Sheet 2.3. Detection of Improper Mounting 3. Configuration of Roll Sheet Assembly 3.1. Overview of Roll Sheet Assembly 3.2. Whole Configuration of Roll Sheet Assembly 3.3. Configuration of Cutting Line 3.4. Specific Examples of Cutting Lines 3.5. Intersection Site of Cutting Line and Convex Portion 4. Method for Assembling Roll Sheet Assembly 5. Method for Disassembling Roll Sheet Assembly 6. Conclusion 1. CONFIGURATION OF PRINTER

First, FIG. 1 will be seen to describe a whole configuration of a printer 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the whole configuration of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment.

An example of a thermal printer will be described below, which is used in a medical apparatus such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, as the printer 1 to which a roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment is applied. However, the roll sheet assembly according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may be applicable to any printer such as a thermal transfer printer (including a dye sublimation printer) and an ink jet printer other than the thermal printer. The printer 1 is used not only in the medical apparatus, but may also be applicable to any electronic apparatus such as a register device, a kiosk terminal, an electronic calculator, and a business or home printer.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes an interface 2, image memory 3, a print information configuration unit 4, a roll sheet holder 5, a sensor 6, a head 7, a platen roller 8, and a platen motor 9. The printer 1 further includes a manipulation unit 10, a printer control unit 11, a print control unit 12, a sheet control unit 13, a platen motor control unit 14, a display unit 15, and a roll state determination unit 16.

The interface 2 is a device used for inputting an image signal of a print target from an external apparatus to the printer 1. The image memory 3 temporarily stores the image signal input via the interface 2. The print information configuration unit 4 reads out the image signal from the image memory 3, configures print information based on the image signal, and outputs the print information to the head 7. The print information indicates an image, a text, or the like of the print target that is laid out within a print frame on a printer sheet.

The roll sheet holder 5 is a holder (mounting unit) used for mounting the roll sheet assembly 100 on the printer 1, and is provided on a housing of the printer 1. The roll sheet assembly 100 includes a roll sheet 120 that is a wound printer sheet, which will be described below in detail. The roll sheet is a thermal sheet made of paper or synthetic resin in the thermal printer according to the present embodiment, but is not limited to such an example.

The head 7 is supplied with the roll sheet 120 unwound from the roll sheet assembly 100 by the rotation of the platen roller 8. The head 7 is a thermal print head, and cooperates with the platen roller 8 in performing a print operation. That is, the head 7 prints the print information that has been input from the print information configuration unit 4 on the roll sheet 120 (printer sheet) fed from the roll sheet assembly 100. The platen roller 8 is rotated by the platen motor 9, and ejects the roll sheet 120 in a print direction.

The manipulation unit 10 includes various keys and touch panels, receives a user manipulation for manipulating the printer 1, and outputs an input signal indicating the user manipulation to the printer control unit 11. The printer control unit 11 controls the overall operation of the printer 1 based on the input signal from the manipulation unit 10. For example, the printer control unit 11 controls the image memory 3, the print information configuration unit 4, and the head 7 via the print control unit 12. The print control unit 11 also controls the platen motor control unit 14 and the display unit 15 via the sheet control unit 13. The platen motor control unit 14 controls the platen motor 9, which controls sheet feed of the roll sheet 120 by the platen roller 8.

In the printer 1, the roll sheet assembly 100 is mounted on the roll sheet folder 5 provided on the housing of the printer 1. The roll sheet holder 5 has a dimension and a shape conforming to the roll sheet assembly 100, and holds the roll sheet assembly 100. The roll sheet holder 5 is provided with the contact type sensor 6 that detects a state (including a type, a remaining amount of a sheet, a mounted state, and a rotation state) of the roll sheet assembly 100. The roll state determination unit 16 determines the state of the roll sheet assembly 100 based on the detection result of the sensor 6, and outputs the determination result to the sheet control unit 13. The sheet control unit 13 controls the platen motor control unit 14 or the display unit 15 in accordance with the determination result. The determination result is also supplied to the printer control unit 11, and the printer control unit 11 controls the head 7 or the print information configuration unit 4 via the print control unit 12 in accordance with the determination result.

2. METHOD FOR DETECTING STATE OF ROLL SHEET ASSEMBLY [2.1. Detection of Remaining Amount of Roll Sheet]

Next, FIGS. 2 to 6 will be seen to describe a method for detecting the state of the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment. The rotation state and the mounted state of the roll sheet assembly 100 are detected in the present embodiment in order to detect the remaining amount of the roll sheet 120.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view and a perspective view, each of which illustrates the configuration of the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the roll sheet assembly 100 includes a hollow cylindrical cardboard tube 110, a roll sheet wound around an outer circumference of the cardboard tube 110, and a symmetrical pair of flanges 130A and 130B (which may be generically referred to as “flange 130,” hereinafter) attached at the both ends of the roll sheet 120.

The roll sheet assembly 100 is assembled from the cardboard tube 110, the roll sheet 120, and the pair of flanges 130 in this way, and has a cylindrical roller shape as a whole. The roll sheet assembly 100 is usually distributed in the market with the flange 130 attached to the cardboard tube 100.

The roll sheet assembly 100 is mounted on the roll sheet holder 5 of the printer 1 with the flanges 130 and 130 attached at the both ends of the roll sheet 120, and serves for printing. Then, after the roll sheet 120 is used out, the roll sheet assembly 100 is detached from the roll sheet holder 5. The roll sheet assembly 100 is separated into the flange 130 and the cardboard tube 110, separately collected, and wasted.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the cardboard tube 110 is a cylindrical axial member for winding the roll sheet 120 therearound. The cardboard tube 110 rotates around a central axis (roll axis C in FIG. 2) of the roll sheet assembly 100 with the roll sheet assembly 100 mounted on the roll sheet holder 5. A material of the cardboard tube 110 includes paper such as cardboard, but is not limited thereto. Another material including synthetic resin may also be adopted as far as having strength enough to wind the roll sheet 120 therearound. A longitudinal length of the cardboard tube 110 is substantially the same as a width of the roll sheet 120. The cardboard tube 110 functions as a support shaft of supporting the roll sheet 120. If the cardboard tube 110 is not provided and only the roll sheet 120 is configured to be wound so as to allow a cardboard tubeless configuration, the unwound printer sheet unfortunately curls much, or the like. The cardboard tube 110 is therefore favorably used as a roll shaft.

The roll sheet 120 is a belt-shaped printer sheet, and is wound around the outer circumference of the cardboard tube 110. A material of the roll sheet 120 is generally paper (such as a thermal sheet in a thermal printer), but another material such as synthetic resin (including plastic paper) may also be adopted as far as the material is a print medium capable of being printed by a printer.

The flange 130 is a disk-shaped member covering the both sides of the roll sheet assembly 100 in a roll axis direction. The symmetrical pair of flanges 130A and 130B is attached to the respective sides of the cardboard tube 110. The flange 130 is injection-molded using an inexpensive material such as synthetic resin, but may also be molded using another material and in another manufacturing method. The flange is molded such that the outer diameter of the flange 130 is equal to or more than the maximum diameter of the roll sheet 120 that is wound around the cardboard tube 110.

The flange 130 includes a function of protecting the roll sheet 120 in transit and a function of preventing the roll sheet 120 from meandering during a print operation. The flange 130 according to the present embodiment further includes a function of delivering information indicating a state of the roll sheet assembly 100 to the printer 1.

That is, an outer surface of at least one of the flanges 130A and 130B has a concave portion and a convex portion formed thereon, which are used for the sensor 6 to detect the state of the roll sheet assembly 100. Here, an inner surface of the flange 130 is a surface on the side facing to the roll sheet 120. To the contrary, the outer surface of the flange 130 is on the opposite side to the inner surface of the flange 130, and faces to a side surface of the roll sheet folder 5, which will be described below. As illustrated in FIG. 5C, a boss convex portion 131 and a ring convex portion 132 project on the outer surface of the flange 130 as convex portions for detecting the state of the roll sheet assembly 100.

The boss convex portion 131 is a convex portion for detecting the rotation state of the roll sheet assembly 100. The ring convex portion 132 is a convex portion for detecting the mounted state of the roll sheet assembly 100. A circular boss convex portion projects as the boss convex portion 131 at only one position that is off the roll axis C. The ring convex portion 132 projects around the roll axis C in a ring shape having a predetermined width. The boss convex portion 131 and the ring convex portion 132 of the flange 130 cooperate with the sensor 6 of the roll sheet holder 5, which will be described below, in detecting the rotation state and the mounted state of the roll sheet assembly 100.

The boss convex portion 131 is formed at only one position inside the ring convex portion 132 in the example illustrated in FIG. 5C. However, the boss convex portion 131 may also be formed outside the ring convex portion 132. Alternatively, the boss convex portions 131 may be formed at a plurality of positions. Furthermore, the boss convex portion 131 is circularly boss-shaped, but any shape such as an elliptic shape and a rectangular shape may be adopted. The only one ring convex portion 132 is formed around the roll axis C, but a plurality of the ring convex portions 132 may also be formed around the roll axis C in concentric circles. A width of the ring convex portion 132 can also be changed as necessary.

Next, FIGS. 3 and 4 will be seen to describe a configuration of the roll sheet holder 5 with the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment mounted thereon. FIG. 3 is an elevation view, a cross-sectional view take from line A-A′, and a side view illustrating the roll sheet holder 5 with the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment not mounted thereon. FIG. 4 is an elevation view illustrating the roll sheet holder 5 with the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment mounted thereon.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the roll sheet holder 5 includes a housing 51 having an aperture area. The housing 51 is provided with an accommodating unit (central accommodating unit 52, and flange accommodating units 53 and 54) that accommodates the roll sheet assembly 100, and the sensor 6 that detects the state of the roll sheet assembly 100.

The central accommodating unit 52 accommodates a main body part (parts of the cardboard tube 110 and the roll sheet 120) at the center of the roll sheet assembly 100. The central accommodating unit 52 is a concave portion having an arcuate longitudinal cross-section whose diameter is longer than the roll sheet 120 of the roll sheet assembly 100, and has one side open. The flange accommodating units 53 and 54 accommodate portions outside the flanges 130A and 130B on the both sides of the roll sheet assembly 100. The flange accommodating units 53 and 54 are concave portions having arcuate longitudinal cross-sections whose diameters are a little longer than the ring convex portion 132 of the flange 130, and have either sides open.

The flange accommodating unit 53 is provided with two contact sensors 61 and 62 on the side surface as the sensor 6 for detecting the state of the roll sheet assembly 100 mounted on the roll sheet holder 5. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the contact sensors 61 and 62 are disposed at positions at which it is possible to face to the respective boss convex portion 131 and ring convex portion 132 formed on the outer surface of the flange 130A of the roll sheet assembly 100.

The contact sensor 61 functions as a rotation state detection sensor for detecting the rotation state of the roll sheet assembly 100. The contact sensor 61 faces to and contacts the boss convex portion 131 of the flange 130 for each rotation of the roll sheet assembly 100, which has been properly mounted on the roll sheet holder 5 (see FIG. 5). The contact sensor 62 functions as a mounted state detection sensor for detecting the mounted state of the roll sheet assembly 100. The contact sensor 62 constantly faces to and contacts the ring convex portion 132 of the roll sheet assembly 100, which has been properly mounted on the roll sheet holder 5 (see FIG. 5).

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a sheet feed mechanism including the platen roller 55 is provided in front of the roll sheet holder 5. The platen roller 55 pulls out the roll sheet 120 from the roll sheet assembly 100 mounted on the roll sheet holder 5. An axis direction of the platen roller 55 is horizontal. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the roll sheet assembly 100 is mounted on the roll sheet holder 5 with a pulled-out end 120 a of the roll sheet 120 wound around the platen roller 55. The roll sheet assembly 100 is mounted on the roll sheet holder 5 in the state in which the roll sheet 120 of the roll sheet assembly 100 does not contact an inner surface of the central accommodating unit 52 and the flange accommodating units 53 and 54 support the flanges 130A and 130B on the both sides of the roll sheet assembly 100 in a rotatable way. The roll sheet assembly 100 successively feeds the roll sheet 120 in a print direction while smoothly rotating around the roll axis C in accordance with the rotation of the platen roller 55.

Next, FIG. 5 will be seen to describe detection operations of the contact sensors 61 and 62 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state of contact of the contact sensors 61 and 62 with the convex portions 131 and 132 on the flange 130 of the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the roll sheet assembly 100 is properly mounted on the roll sheet holder 5, the contact sensor 62 constantly faces to and contacts the ring convex portion 132 to be pressed by the ring convex portion 132. Thus, a SW2 of the contact sensor 62 is constantly on. Additionally, when the roll sheet assembly 100 is not mounted on the roll sheet holder 5 or is not properly mounted, the SW2 is off because the contact sensor 62 is not pressed by the ring convex portion 132.

Meanwhile, the contact sensor 61 repeats contact/non-contact with the boss convex portion 131 in accordance with the rotation of the roll sheet assembly 100 so that a SW1 of the contact sensor 61 also repeats on/off at all times. As illustrated in FIG. 5A in detail, when the contact sensor 61 does not face to or contact the boss convex portion 131, the contact sensor 61 is not pressed by the boss convex portion 131 so that the SW1 is also off. Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, when the roll sheet assembly 100 rotates and the contact sensor 61 faces to and contacts the boss convex portion 131, the contact sensor 61 is pressed by the boss convex portion 131 so that the SW1 is on.

The contact sensors 61 and 62 detect the state of contact with the boss convex portion 131 and the ring convex portion 132 of the flange 130A in this way, and turn the switches SW1 and SW2 on/off in accordance with the state of contact. The contact sensors 61 and 62 output sensor signals indicating the detection results to the roll state determination unit 16 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 6 is a table illustrating the sensor signals output from the contact sensors 61 and 62 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 6, when pressed by the ring convex portion 132, the first contact sensor 62 (mounted state detection sensor) outputs a low signal indicating that the roll sheet assembly 100 is properly mounted on the roll sheet holder 5. To the contrary, when not pressed by the ring convex portion 132, the first contact sensor 62 outputs a high signal indicating that the roll sheet assembly 100 is not mounted or is improperly mounted.

When pressed by the boss convex portion 131, the second contact sensor 61 (rotation state detection sensor) outputs a low signal indicating that the boss convex portion 131 faces to the contact sensor 61. To the contrary, when not pressed by the boss convex portion 131, the second contact sensor 61 outputs a high signal indicating that the boss convex portion 131 does not face to the contact sensor 61.

Additionally, the contact sensor 61 outputs the high signal indicating that the boss convex portion 131 does not face to the contact sensor 61 when the roll sheet assembly 100 is not mounted. Any combination other than the example illustrated in FIG. 6 may also be used as the combination of the mounted state and the rotation state of the roll sheet assembly 100 and the sensor signals of the two contact sensors 61 and 62.

It is assumed here that the roll sheet 120 is fed from the roll sheet assembly 100 at a constant rate. In this case, the rotation speed of the roll sheet assembly 100 around the roll axis C decreases with increase in the roll diameter of the roll sheet 120 of the roll sheet assembly 100, that is, increase in the remaining amount of the roll sheet 120. Thus, it is possible to detect the remaining amount of the roll sheet 120 by detecting the rotation speed of the roll sheet assembly 100.

FIG. 7 is a signal waveform chart illustrating a relationship between the remaining amount of the roll sheet 120 and the sensor signal of the contact sensor 61 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 assumes that the roll sheet 120 is fed from the roll sheet assembly 100 at a constant rate.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, when a large amount of the roll sheet 120 remains, the rotation speed of the roll sheet assembly 100 decreases so that a time interval Δt from low signal falling of the contact sensor 61 to next low signal falling is lengthened. To the contrary, when a small amount of the roll sheet 120 remains, the rotation speed of the roll sheet assembly 100 increases so that the time interval Δt is relatively shortened.

Accordingly, if the time interval Δt between the low signals of the contact sensor 61 is measured and Δt is equal to or less than a threshold value Δtt, which means that the remaining amount of the roll sheet 120 is small, it is possible to notify a user of the necessity for exchanging the roll sheet assembly 100. In this case, the rotation speed of the roll sheet assembly 100 is obtained in the state in which, for example, 90% of the roll sheet 120 has been used out, and the time interval Δt of the corresponding low signals is calculated as the threshold value Δtt.

As described above, according to the roll sheet assembly 100 of the present embodiment, the boss convex portion 131 and the ring convex portion 132 formed on the outer surface of the flange 130 are used to detect the mounted state and the rotation state of the roll sheet assembly 100. Just a simple configuration hereby allows the detection of the remaining amount of the roll sheet 120. Thus, it is possible to notify a user of the consumption of the roll sheet 120, the necessity for exchanging the roll sheet 120, or the like in accordance with the detection result of the remaining amount of the roll sheet 120.

The boss convex portion 131 and the ring convex portion 132 are used above to detect the mounted state and the rotation state of the roll sheet assembly 100, but a shape of the convex portion on the outer surface of the flange 130 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure and a state of the roll sheet assembly 100 detected by using the convex portion are not limited thereto. The modified examples will be described below.

[2.2. Detection of Type of Roll Sheet]

For example, a change in a width of the ring convex portion 132 on the outer surface of the flange 130 may allow a type of the roll sheet assembly 100 or a type (including a roll width, a material, and a species) of the roll sheet 120 to be detected. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 8, when using a flange 130C that includes a ring convex portion 132C of a wide width w1, the two contact sensors 61 and 62 provided on the roll sheet holder 5 are configured to be depressed by the ring convex portion 132C. To the contrary, when using a flange 130D that includes a ring convex portion 132D of a narrow width w2, only the contact sensor 61 is configured to be depressed by the ring convex portion 132D.

Consequently, just a simple configuration allows the type of the roll sheet 120 to be detected only by changing the width of the ring convex portion 132 on the flange 130 in accordance with the type of the roll sheet 120. Thus, the printer 1 can perform control (including control for adjusting the print speed, shade, and density) according to the type of the roll sheet 120 without a designation manipulation by a user.

[2.3. Detection of Improper Mounting]

It is also possible to detect improper mounting of the roll sheet assembly 100 by changing a shape and disposition of a convex portion between the two flanges 130 on the both sides of the roll sheet assembly 100. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a ring convex portion 132E having a large outer diameter D1 is attached onto one of the sides of the roll sheet assembly 100 while a ring convex portion 132F having a small outer diameter D2 is attached onto the other side of the roll sheet assembly 100. The flange accommodating unit 53 on one of the sides of the roll sheet holder 5 is shaped so as to conform to the ring convex portion 132E having the large outer diameter D1 while the flange accommodating unit 54 on the other side is shaped so as to conform to the ring convex portion 132F having the small outer diameter D2.

Consequently, if the roll sheet assembly 100 is mounted on the roll sheet holder 5 in a proper direction, the ring convex portions 132E and 130F are appropriately accommodated into the flange accommodating units 53 and 54, respectively. To the contrary, if the roll sheet assembly 100 attempts to be mounted on the roll sheet holder 5 in an improper direction, the ring convex portion 132E having the large outer diameter D1 is not capable of being accommodated into flange accommodating unit 54 for the small outer diameter D2. Thus, a simple configuration can prevent the roll sheet assembly 100 from being improperly mounted only by changing sizes of the ring convex portions 132 on the symmetrical flanges 130E and 130F.

3. CONFIGURATION OF ROLL SHEET ASSEMBLY

Next, the description will be made regarding a configuration of the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[3.1. Overview of Roll Sheet Assembly]

First, the description will be made regarding an overview of the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment. As described above, the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to have the pair of flanges 130 attached to the respective ends of the cardboard tube 110, around which the roll sheet 120 is wound, in an axis direction, and the flange 130 is configured to cover the each end face of the roll sheet 120. The flange 130 allows a function of detecting the state of the roll sheet assembly 100 by use of a convex portion on the outer surface of the flange 130 and the like to be realized in addition to the function of protecting the roll sheet 120, the secure mounting of the roll sheet 120 on the roll sheet holder 5, and the function of preventing the roll sheet 120 from meandering.

Meanwhile, the configuration using the flange 130 may interfere with easy disassembly of the flange 130 and the cardboard tube 110 after the roll sheet assembly 100 is used. That is, the flange 130 has to be configured to be integrated with the roll sheet 120 and the cardboard tube 110 such that the flange 130 is not easily detached from the cardboard tube 110 before and while the roll sheet 120 is used. To the contrary, after the roll sheet 120 is used, it is necessary to easily separate the cardboard tube 110 from the flange 130, to separately collect the cardboard tube 110 and the flange 130 when wasted, to reduce the waste, and the like.

A cutting line (such as perforations and cutting guide kerfs) that is easy to cut is therefore configured to be formed on an attaching portion (cylindrical body 134 described below) of the flange 130, which is inserted into the cardboard tube 110, in the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment. The attaching portion of the flange 130 is hereby cut and destroyed along the cutting line after the roll sheet 120 is used out so that the attaching portion can be pulled out from the cardboard tube 110 and the cardboard tube 110 can be easily separated from the flange 130.

[3.2. Whole Configuration of Roll Sheet Assembly]

Next, FIGS. 10 to 14 will be seen to describe a configuration of the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment in detail. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the symmetrical pair of the flanges 130 and 130 according to the present embodiment. FIGS. 12 and 13 are a side view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, each of which illustrates the flange 130 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that the flange 130 according to the present embodiment is attached to the cardboard tube 110.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the roll sheet assembly 100 includes the cardboard tube 110, the roll sheet 120, and the symmetrical pair of flanges 130A and 130B (which may be generically referred to as “flange 130,” hereinafter) disposed at the respective ends of the cardboard tube 110 in an axis direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 14, the flange 130 includes a flange main body 133, the cylindrical body 134 for attaching the flange main body 133 to the cardboard tube 110, and a fixing unit (such as a pawl 135) for fixing the cylindrical body 134 inside the cardboard tube 110.

The flange main body 133 is a disk-shaped member having an outer diameter corresponding to the maximum diameter of the roll sheet 120, and has a function of covering the cardboard tube 110 and an end face of the roll sheet 120. A convex portion such as the ring convex portion 132 for detecting the state of the roll sheet assembly 100 projects on an outer surface 133 a (outwardly exposed side surface of the roll sheet assembly 100 in the axis direction) of the flange main body 133. To the contrary, the cylindrical body 134 to be inserted into the cardboard tube 110 is formed at the center of an inner surface 133 b (side surface facing to the end face of the roll sheet 120) of the flange main body 133.

Here, the cylindrical body 134 functions as an attaching portion for attaching the flange main body 133 to the cardboard tube 110. The cylindrical body 134 projects inwardly (toward the cardboard tube 110) at the center of the inner surface 133 b of the flange main body 133, and can be inserted into the cardboard tube 110. The cylindrical body 134 further has a shape that allows the cylindrical body 134 to mate with the inside of the cardboard tube 110. A length L1 of the cylindrical body 134 in an axis direction is shorter than a length L of the cardboard tube 110 in the axis direction, which means that L1 is about one-third of L, for example. An outer diameter R1 of the cylindrical body 134 is equal to or smaller than an inner diameter R of the cardboard tube 110, which means that R1 is a little smaller than R, for example.

An outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 134 has the fixing unit formed thereon, which fixes the cylindrical body 134 inserted into the cardboard tube 110 to an inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110. The fixing unit according to the present embodiment includes four pawls 135. The pawls 135 each have a wedge shape that is inclined toward a tip 134 a of the cylindrical body 134. The pawls 135 project on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 134. In the illustrated example, the four pawls 135 are disposed on the outer circumferential surface on the tip 134 a side of the cylindrical body 134 in a circumferential direction at the same intervals. The pawls 135 are shaped such that a diameter of a vertex of each pawl 135 is larger than the inner diameter R of the cardboard tube 110. The four pawls 135 hereby come into contact with the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110 when the cylindrical body 134 is inserted into the cardboard tube 110.

The cylindrical body 134 of the flange 130 can be inserted into the cardboard tube 110, and the cylindrical body 134 can mate with the cardboard tube 110 owing to a mating structure using the pawls 135. Since pawls 135 lock the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110, it is possible to firmly join the cylindrical body 134 to the cardboard tube 110. The cylindrical body 134 is not therefore pulled out from the cardboard tube 110 so that it is possible to prevent the flange 130 from being detached from the cardboard tube 110. The use of the mating structure allows the cardboard tube 110 to be relatively easily joined to the flange 130 without an additional joining member.

Some force has to be applied to press the cylindrical body 134 into the cardboard tube 110 when the cylindrical body 134 is inserted into the cardboard tube 110 because the pawls 135 come into contact with the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110. However, since the pawls 135 each have an acute wedge shape toward the tip 134 a of the cylindrical body 134, it is possible to lessen the pressure resistance of the pawls 135 upon pressing the cylindrical body 134 into the cardboard tube 110. Thus, even if the pawls 135 are present, it is possible to relatively easily and smoothly press the cylindrical body 134 into the cardboard tube 110 when the cylindrical body 134 is inserted into the cardboard tube 110.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 14, after the cylindrical body 134 is inserted into the cardboard tube 110, the pawls 135 are wedged into the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110 to lock the inner circumferential surface 110 a so that the cylindrical body 134 is fixed to the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110. Thus, after the cylindrical body 134 is completely inserted into the cardboard tube 110, the cylindrical body 134 is not easily pulled out from the cardboard tube 110 owing to a locking effect of the pawls 135. It is therefore possible to securely attach the flange 130 to the cardboard tube 110.

Furthermore, a plurality of pawls 135 are formed in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body 134 so that the plurality of pawls 135 can fix the cylindrical body 134 to the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110 at a plurality of positions. It is therefore possible to more surely prevent the cylindrical body 134 from being pulled out from the cardboard tube 110.

In addition, it is advantageously possible to securely fix the cylindrical body 134 inside the cardboard tube 110 by forming the pawls 135 on the tip 134 a side of the cylindrical body 134, and the pawls 135 becomes easy to detach as an advantage after the cylindrical body 134 is cut along a cutting line 150, which will be described below.

If the outer diameter R1 of the cylindrical body 134 is configured to equal to the inner diameter R of the cardboard tube 110, the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 134, which has been pressed into the cardboard tube 110, comes into intimate contact with the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110. It is hereby possible owing to fricative resistance between the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 134 and the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110 to more surely prevent the cylindrical body 134 from being pulled out from the cardboard tube 110.

Another joining method may be used as a method for fixing the cylindrical body 134 of the flange 130 to the cardboard tube 110 in addition to the example mating structure using the pawls 135 as far as the cylindrical body 134 is not easily detached from the cardboard tube 110 while the roll sheet assembly 100 is used. For example, the cylindrical body 134 may be fixed inside the cardboard tube 110 by using thermal deformation (such as thermal welding), an adhesive, or the like. In this case, it is preferable that only a part of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 134 is fixed to the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110, which means that only the outer circumferential surface on the tip 134 a side of the cylindrical body 134 is partly fixed, for example. The cylindrical body 134 becomes hereby easier to detach from the cardboard tube 110 when the cylindrical body 134 is cut along the cutting line 150.

[3.3. Configuration of Cutting Line]

Next, FIGS. 10 to 14 will be seen to describe a cutting line formed on the flange 130 according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 14, the cylindrical body 134 of the flange 130 according to the present embodiment has a spiral cutting line 150 formed thereon, which is used to disassemble the cylindrical body 134. The cutting line 150 is a linear portion that is easy to cut and formed on the cylindrical body 134, and a cutting guide line that facilitates the cylindrical body 134 to be cut. A part on which the cutting line 150 is formed in the cylindrical body 134 has a weaker and thinner member than another part in the cylindrical body 134. Consequently, when no external force is applied to the cylindrical body 134, the cylindrical body 134 is not cut along the cutting line 150. However, when external force is applied, the cylindrical body 134 can be easily cut along the cutting line 150.

In the present embodiment, the spiral cutting line 150 is continuously formed from a base 134 b of the cylindrical body 134 with respect to the flange main body 133 to the tip 134 a of the cylindrical body 134. It becomes hereby possible to spirally cut and disassemble the entire cylindrical body 134 from the base 134 b of the cylindrical body 134 to the tip 134 a.

The spiral cutting line 150 has a function of guiding an opening slit on the cylindrical body 134 from the base 134 b of the cylindrical body 134 to the tip 134 a. That is, when applying force in a direction in which the flange main body 133 is pulled out from the cardboard tube 110, first, an end of the cutting line 150 on the base 134 b side of the cylindrical body 134 is torn. Thereafter, the cylindrical body 134 is spirally cut along the cutting line 150 by using the torn end of the cutting line 150 as an opening slit, and the cylindrical body 134 is cut from the base 134 b of the cylindrical body 134 to the tip 134 a.

The spiral cutting line 150 is formed on the cylindrical body 134 in this way so that only a single cutting line is used to facilitate the cylindrical body 134 to be cut from the base 134 b of the cylindrical body 134 to the tip 134 a, and allows the entire cylindrical body 134 to be destroyed.

[3.4. Specific Examples of Cutting Lines]

FIGS. 10 to 15 will be seen here to describe specific examples of the spiral cutting line 150. FIG. 15 is a side view illustrating the flange 130 on which a spiral cutting line 150 (cutting guide kerf 151) according to a modified example of the present embodiment is formed. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cylindrical body 134 on which a cutting guide kerf 151 according to a modified example of the present embodiment is formed.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 14, the spiral cutting line 150 may include perforations. A length of a hole and a length of a part of the perforations that is not penetrated are selected as necessary in accordance with a material or a thickness of the cylindrical body 134. If a metal mold for perforations is used upon injection-molding the cylindrical body 134, the perforations can be relatively easily formed as the cutting line 150. Alternatively, the perforations may be formed by using a cutter for perforations after the cylindrical body 134 is molded.

As illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, the spiral cutting line 150 may include the cutting guide kerf 151. A depth and a width of the cutting guide kerf 151 are selected as necessary in accordance with a material and a thickness of the cylindrical body 134. The cutting guide kerf 151 may be formed by using a metal mold for kerfs upon injection-molding the cylindrical body 134, or may be formed by being half-cut with a cutting tool after the cylindrical body 134 is molded.

A shape of a cross-section of the cutting guide kerf 151 can also be realized in the various forms. For example, a V-shaped groove 151A may be formed over a surface of the cylindrical body 134, as illustrated in FIG. 16A, or two V-shaped grooves 151B and 151B may be formed on the both surfaces of the cylindrical body 134 so as to face to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 16B. The cutting guide kerf 151 may be a kerf 151C of a rectangular cross-section, as illustrated in FIG. 16C, or may also be a kerf 151D of a semicircular cross-section, as illustrated in FIG. 16D.

4. METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING ROLL SHEET ASSEMBLY

Next, FIGS. 17 and 18 will be seen to describe a method for assembling the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment. FIGS. 17 and 18 are process drawings, each of which illustrates the method for assembling the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, when the roll sheet assembly 100 starts to be assembled, the pair of flanges 130A and 130B of the roll sheet assembly 100, the cardboard tube 110 and the roll sheet 120 are separated. It is assumed that the cardboard tube 110, the roll sheet 120, and the flanges 130A and 130B start to be assembled from this state.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the cylindrical body 134 of the flange 130A is inserted into the cardboard tube 110 from an end of the cardboard tube 110, and the pawls 135 fix the cylindrical body 134 to the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110. Some pressing force is applied to press the cylindrical body 134 into the cardboard tube 110 so that the cylindrical body 134 can be inserted into the cardboard tube 110 as far as the base 134 b though the pawls 135 around the cylindrical body 134 come into contact with the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110.

The cylindrical body 134 of the other flange 130B is similarly inserted into the cardboard tube 110 form the other end of the cardboard tube 110, and the pawls 135 fix the cylindrical body 134 to the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110. In this way, the cylindrical bodies 134 of the two flanges 130A and 130B are inserted into the cardboard tube 110 from the respective ends to be fixed.

As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 18, the cylindrical body 134 attaches each of the flanges 130A and 130B to the cardboard tube 110 with the roll sheet 120 and the cardboard tube 110 sandwiched between the flanges 130A and 130B, and the assembly of the roll sheet assembly 100 is completed.

As described above, in the method for assembling the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to easily and quickly assemble the roll sheet assembly 100 only by joining the flanges 130A and 130B to the cardboard tube 110. Moreover, since the both flanges 130A and 130B are firmly fixed to the cardboard tube 110 by the pawls 135 (fixing units) of the cylindrical body 134 in the assembled roll sheet assembly 100, the flanges 130A and 130B are not easily detached from the roll sheet 120 and the cardboard tube 110.

5. METHOD FOR DISASSEMBLING ROLL SHEET ASSEMBLY

Next, FIGS. 19 to 21 will be seen to describe a method for disassembling the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment. FIGS. 19 to 21 are process drawings, each of which illustrates the method for disassembling the flange 130A of the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the present embodiment.

First, a user applies force F in a direction in which the cylindrical body 134 is pulled out from the cardboard tube 110 to the flange main body 133 of the flange 130A. As illustrated in FIG. 19, the flange main body 133 is hereby deformed, which causes distortion at a position of the base 134 b of the cylindrical body 134, so that an end of the cutting line 150 is cut open at the position of the base 134 b. As a result, the cylindrical body 134 starts to be cut along the spiral cutting line 150.

Next, the flange main body 133 is further pulled so that the cylindrical body 134 is spirally cut along the spiral cutting line 150 from the base 134 b side to the tip 134 a side. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 20, once the cylindrical body 134 is cut along the cutting line 150 as far as the tip 134 a, the cylindrical body 134, which has been spirally cut, is stretched out. The outer diameter of the cylindrical body 134 becomes therefore apparently smaller so that the plurality of pawls 135 around the tip 134 a of the cylindrical body 134 become easy to detach from the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110. Thus, it becomes possible to easily separate the cylindrical body 134 from the cardboard tube 110. As illustrated in FIG. 21, the cylindrical body 134, which has been spirally cut, can be hereby pulled out from the cardboard tube 110, and the cardboard tube 110 can be separated from the flange 130A.

Thereafter, the cylindrical body 134 of the other flange 130B is similarly cut along the spiral cutting line 150, the cylindrical body 134 is pulled out from the cardboard tube 110, and the cardboard tube 110 is separated from the flange 130B. As a result, the roll sheet assembly 100 is disassembled into the flange 130A, the flange 130B, and the cardboard tube 110.

As described above, it is possible to easily disassemble the used roll sheet assembly 100 into the cardboard tube 110 of a paper material and a roll sheet flange (flanges 130A and 130B) of a synthetic resin material. It becomes hereby possible to separately collect and waste the roll sheet assembly 100 in accordance with the materials. It is further possible to reduce the volume (quantity) of the waste much more than the waste thrown away if the used roll sheet assembly 100 is not disassembled.

6. CONCLUSION

As explained above, the detailed description has been made regarding the roll sheet assembly 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to deliver information regarding the state (such as a remaining amount of a sheet and a mounted state) of the roll sheet assembly 100 from the roll sheet assembly 100 to the printer 1 owing to the easy and inexpensive configuration in which the flanges 130 each having the ring convex portion 132 and the like formed on the outer surface are attached to the respective sides of the roll sheet 120.

In addition, the both flanges 130 and 130 can be easily and securely attached at the respective ends of the cardboard tube 110 and the roll sheet 120 only by inserting the cylindrical body 134 of each flange 130 into the cardboard tube 110 to be fixed. The pawls 135 (fixing units) firmly fix the cylindrical body 134, which has been inserted into the cardboard tube 110, to the inner circumferential surface 110 a of the cardboard tube 110. Thus, the flange 130 is not easily detached from the cardboard tube 110 and the roll sheet 120 before and while the roll sheet assembly 100 is used.

Furthermore, the spiral cutting line 150 that is easy to cut is formed on the cylindrical body 134 of the flange 130 of the roll sheet assembly 100 in advance. The cylindrical body 134 of the flange 130 is hereby cut along the spiral cutting line 150 by external force that is applied to the flange main body 133 when the used roll sheet assembly 100 is wasted. It becomes hereby possible to cause destruction and diameter reduction in the cylindrical body 134 inside the cardboard tube 110, and to pull out the cylindrical body 134 from the cardboard tube 110 so that the cardboard tube 110 can be easily separated from the flange 130. Thus, it is possible to easily disassemble and sort out the remaining parts (cardboard tube 110 and flange 130) of the used roll sheet assembly 100. Consequently, it is possible to facilitate resources such as paper and synthetic resin to be effectively used, reused, and the like because the waste of the roll sheet assembly 100 can be separately collected for each material.

Furthermore, the used roll sheet assembly 100 can be disassembled into as small a part as each part before assembled so that it is possible to further enhance capacity of disassembly of the roll sheet assembly 100 upon being wasted. Thus, the volume of the waste of the roll sheet assembly 100 can be reduced so as not to grow voluminous. Thus, it is possible to enhance efficiency of keeping, transferring, and throwing away the waste, or the like.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

It becomes possible to easily cut the cylindrical body 134 along the cutting line if, for example, one or more slits (elongate gaps) are formed in advance on the spiral cutting line 150, which is formed on the cylindrical body 134. In addition, if a cutting slit has been formed at the end of the cutting line 150 at the position of the base 134 b of the cylindrical body 134, it becomes easier to start to cut the cylindrical body 134 along the cutting line 150 by using the slit as a cutting start point.

Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.

(1) A roll sheet assembly including:

a cardboard tube;

a roll sheet wound around the cardboard tube; and

a pair of flanges each disposed at one of both ends of the cardboard tube,

wherein the flanges each include

-   -   a flange main body covering an end face of the roll sheet,     -   a cylindrical body projecting at a center of an inner surface of         the flange main body, and being inserted into the cardboard         tube, and     -   a fixing unit fixing the cylindrical body being inserted into         the cardboard tube to an inner circumferential surface of the         cardboard tube, and

wherein the cylindrical body has a spiral cutting line formed thereon.

(2) The roll sheet assembly according to (1), wherein the fixing unit includes a pawl, the pawl projecting on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body, and locking the inner circumferential surface of the cardboard tube. (3) The roll sheet assembly according to (1) or (2), wherein the spiral cutting line is continuously formed from a base of the cylindrical body with respect to the flange main body to a tip of the cylindrical body. (4) The roll sheet assembly according to any one of (1) to (3),

wherein the roll sheet assembly is capable of being accommodated in a holder, the holder being provided in a printer, and

wherein a convex portion is formed on an outer surface of the flange main body, the convex portion being detected by a sensor provided on the holder.

(5) The roll sheet assembly according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the spiral cutting line includes perforations or a cutting guide kerf. (6) The roll sheet assembly according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein, when force is applied to the flange main body in a direction in which the cylindrical body is pulled out from the cardboard tube, the cylindrical body is cut along the spiral cutting line and fixation of the cylindrical body by the fixing unit is released. (7) A roll sheet flange including:

a disk-shaped flange main body covering an end face of a roll sheet, the roll sheet being wound around a cardboard tube;

a cylindrical body projecting at a center of an inner surface of the flange main body, and being inserted into the cardboard tube; and

a fixing unit fixing the cylindrical body being inserted into the cardboard tube to an inner circumferential surface of the cardboard tube,

wherein the cylindrical body has a spiral cutting line formed thereon.

The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2012-196416 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Sep. 6, 2012, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A roll sheet assembly comprising: a cardboard tube; a roll sheet wound around the cardboard tube; and a pair of flanges each disposed at one of both ends of the cardboard tube, wherein the flanges each include a flange main body covering an end face of the roll sheet, a cylindrical body projecting at a center of an inner surface of the flange main body, and being inserted into the cardboard tube, and a fixing unit fixing the cylindrical body being inserted into the cardboard tube to an inner circumferential surface of the cardboard tube, and wherein the cylindrical body has a spiral cutting line formed thereon.
 2. The roll sheet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit includes a pawl, the pawl projecting on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body, and locking the inner circumferential surface of the cardboard tube.
 3. The roll sheet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spiral cutting line is continuously formed from a base of the cylindrical body with respect to the flange main body to a tip of the cylindrical body.
 4. The roll sheet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the roll sheet assembly is capable of being accommodated in a holder, the holder being provided in a printer, and wherein a convex portion is formed on an outer surface of the flange main body, the convex portion being detected by a sensor provided on the holder.
 5. The roll sheet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spiral cutting line includes perforations or a cutting guide kerf.
 6. The roll sheet assembly according to claim 1, wherein, when force is applied to the flange main body in a direction in which the cylindrical body is pulled out from the cardboard tube, the cylindrical body is cut along the spiral cutting line and fixation of the cylindrical body by the fixing unit is released.
 7. A roll sheet flange comprising: a disk-shaped flange main body covering an end face of a roll sheet, the roll sheet being wound around a cardboard tube; a cylindrical body projecting at a center of an inner surface of the flange main body, and being inserted into the cardboard tube; and a fixing unit fixing the cylindrical body being inserted into the cardboard tube to an inner circumferential surface of the cardboard tube, wherein the cylindrical body has a spiral cutting line formed thereon. 